Super Wallflower!

[dahliaoleander]

On the way to the grocery store, I saw the Eagle Rock Dance Studio and saw they offered ballroom.

While I might not use that studio per se...

Its something I've always wanted to learn.
(Not because of Dancing With the Stars either.)

I'd just love to learn the waltz and all those old dances.

But one thing...

I'm super shy... And I don't typically speak up if I don't know people.

As in it takes a lot of gall for me to say "excuse me Mr./Ms./Mrs. X could you teach me this step again.. Could I meet with you privately."

And aside from that...

At 17 I'm afraid I suffer from 2-left-feet syndrome.

And I feel awkward about it....

HELP!

 

[Darhling]

Dear Dahlia

I too was very much like that when I was at your age and younger (makes me sound old LOL), but remember shedding all your shyness doesn't happen overnight. Goind in and signing up for a class is a step on the way, and since you are aware of your shyness, set yourself small goals : If I miss a step and I don't ask about it immediatly, I will ask when the class is finished and so on.

 

[miss_elise]

do you have a friend you can go with? because at least then you'll know someone in the class.. and you'll be able to go out for a coffee and laugh at yourselves afterwards...it's therapeutic

 

[Lady Day]

I was ridiculously introverted when I was younger. I discovered it wasnt the actual act I was afraid of, but that moment you live in before it. Once I understood that, I got numb to that fear after stepping over it a few times.

Plus you will be in a new place meeting new people. You can be whoever you want to be!! These folks dont know you, go crazy (or at least your level of crazy).

I want to learn dancing too, just havent the green to make it happen.

LD

 

[dahliaoleander]

do you have a friend you can go with? because at least then you'll know someone in the class.. and you'll be able to go out for a coffee and laugh at yourselves afterwards...it's therapeutic

I've got nothing....

Besides that I don';t make money yet (never had an allowance/job). Nust a parent funded credit card.

And how sad is it to pull out a card for a 3-6 dollar drink? :lol

 

[Aurora]

It's a terrifying thought going to a dance class alone.... I'm there right now! Just moved to a new area and don't know many people yet, but really want to start dancing - But maybe ask if they do small group sessions (no more than 6 people), that way you'll get to know the other pupils?

If you're not making any money, how about asking for a small job (cleaning etc) in exhange for dancing lessons?

Good luck

 

[epr25]

I am going to turn 30 next month. YIKES! I wish anything that when you are young you could have the confidence that comes with being a bit older. Oh the quintessential if I had only know then what I know now. I say go for it. Live and be confident, maybe by taking a risky step earlier in live you can gain the confidence a little earlier in life!

 

[crwritt]

Check out the schedule, or call to see if they have beginner group classes. usually these run through the basic ballroom rhythms in six weeks of classes.
The best part about this, and you may not think so yet, is that you will be in a group of people, dancing in pairs, and will frequently change partners during the lesson. Each time you change, you thnk your last partner and greet your new partner. it really is a simple confidence builder.
This is much better for a beginner than just showing up at a dance party, where you don't know any of the people or the steps.
I started learning ballroom at age 40, and I'm so glad I did!
We have met such a nice crowd of people, and have a dancing date at least once a week.

 

[pigeon toe]

I say go for it! I was incredibly shy for most of my life, pretty much up until college. And according to most people's standards, I'm still quite reserved and quiet until you get to know me.

But this summer I'm going to sign up for beginner lindy lessons, even though I have two left feet and no one else to go to the class with. I think it's important, especially if you're shy, to get out of your comfort zone every once in awhile. And if you're good at laughing at yourself when you make a mistake, you'll have an even easier time. I've mastered the art of that myself!

Give it a shot, I'm sure it will be worth it.

 

[Rockapin-up]

On the way to the grocery store, I saw the Eagle Rock Dance Studio and saw they offered ballroom.

I'v been trying to get my boyfreind to take classes with me their for months. I can't dance to save my life (well I can shake it ) but as for ballroom, swing, salsa, I just don't know how and Like you i'm shy. Well maybe I get ther nerve and just sign us up for a lesson. Good luck.

 

[dahliaoleander]

On the way to the grocery store, I saw the Eagle Rock Dance Studio and saw they offered ballroom.

I'v been trying to get my boyfreind to take classes with me their for months. I can't dance to save my life (well I can shake it ) but as for ballroom, swing, salsa, I just don't know how and Like you i'm shy. Well maybe I get ther nerve and just sign us up for a lesson. Good luck.

If you go and I go maybe I can meet'cha there. lol

 

[The Shirt]

I just finished up taking a swing dance series of classes. I am still definitely timid in new situations. The thing I was after the first 10 mins of being hyper aware of myself and thinking everyone was watching me - my head quieted down. The instructors will generally pair up singles (and there are plenty of them) or he/she will grab you as their own partner. You are concentrating so much more on yourself than what everyone else thinks.

It was really fun and I recommend it to anyone! Again - getting outside you comfort zone will help you gain a little bit of that life experience so it isn't so tough the next time. By the time you are at the ripe ol' age of 20 you might realize your confidence is building.

Besides - I bet no one at the class bites! They are just as nervous as you about making a fool out of themselves. That's the fun in it.

 

[Joie DeVive]

I'm still pretty insanely shy at 33. The only way I've found to deal with it is as Lady Day says, just go right at it. You'll get used to whatever activity you fear in a hurry, and then it won't be so bad. At dance lessons, you will trade partners, I've found that if you aim to match up with one who is a smidge better than you, especially if they are older, that they sometimes pick up on where you are struggling and will give you pointers. At least that was my experience in country dancing in college. I haven't really taken the plunge on swing or ballroom yet.

Now, this is fftopic: but I really feel like I need to share it. About your money situation, if you haven't had any practice managing money, you really might want to talk to your parents and see if you can work out a way for you to get that opportunity now. I have friends who were raised like you were, and once they left the "parental dole" so to speak, they got themselves into thousands of dollars of credit card debt. They weren't used to having a specific set amount that they could spend, and so they overspent and it took them years to dig themselves out of debt. I'm sorry if I am speaking out of turn, but I'd just rather nobody else to have to learn those lessons the hard way.

 

[MissMissy]

I had a similiar situation. I really wanted to learn bellydancing but was too shy to go to classes. So for about a year I bought instructional dvds and danced in my living room, but it's not the same because you really need someone there to correct you so you don't learn bad habits. Anywho, I finally got fed up with my shyness and just signed up one day. I realized upon getting there that everyone was new and nervous but we all managed to get through it and have fun! I hope you go, I think you'll be very proud of yourself and in no time you may find that your ballroom lessons offer you a break from your normally shy self!

Missy

 

[Rockapin-up]

Are you talking about this one http://www.ballroomblitz.org/index.html?

or the other one that's also on Eagle Rock Blvd. Ballroom blitz is the one closer to Colorado blvd.

 

[dahliaoleander]

Are you talking about this one http://www.ballroomblitz.org/index.html?

or the other one that's also on Eagle Rock Blvd. Ballroom blitz is the one closer to Colorado blvd.

Either actually... Haven't decided....

 

[Paisley]

A partner or group can actually be a crutch. I see newbies who come in with a partner or a group, and they tend to stand on the sidelines, while the singletons tend to get out there and practice and learn. I think I've actually learned to follow better, and do solo moves way better, because I didn't have a regular partner. And at age 39, if I waited for a group of friends to go somewhere, I'd never leave the house.

Check out my thread called Learning to Dance in the Golden Era section. Enjoy!